Agenda item

To consider a report by the Executive Director of People - Adults, Dorset Council.

The Board considered a report by the Head of Commissioning - Adult Social Care, Dorset Council, which highlighted performance of the Better Care Fund (BCF) against the metrics for Quarter 2.  The BCF Plan for 2019/20 had been submitted to NHS England on 27 September 2019, had received regional approval and was currently going through the national approval process.

In response to questions members noted that commissioners were working to stimulate and grow the social care market; regular meetings were held with providers and forums to share good practice, discuss challenges and learn from each other; a meeting had been arranged in January/February 2020 on technology  to demonstrate how technology can be used by providers to  deliver services and help  address issues of rurality and travel distances; the next report would provide an update on the impact of the launch of the DCR; there would be a focus on voluntary sector involvement in prevention over the next 12 months; and steps were being taken to raise awareness and an event was being held on 29 November 2019 in Sturminster Newton for this purpose;

Members were reminded that they each had a part to play in prevention at scale, joining up services and maximising the use of technology to help people.  They noted that the local authority was currently finalising the award of contracts for assistive technology partner with effect from April 2020. The Local Authority will link with fire and police services in relation to sharing what each partner were doing

Attention was drawn to the time lag for the production of data and the need for improved data science in order to better understand the BCF metrics.  The Director of Public Health agreed to discuss this with David Plumber, the Data Modellist. 

Members noted that social care delayed transfers of care had reduced and health delays remained high.  It was noted that being delayed in hospital when ready to leave was not a good outcome for the individual. The overall current delayed transfers of care performance might lead to a system review by the Care Quality Commission.  The Board discussed and identified some of barriers and reasons for delayed discharges and considered how it could help improve performance and ensure the best outcome for individuals and ensure that they were not delay unnecessarily in hospital. The Chief Executive of the Clinical Commissioning Group stated that the health delays were due to internal flow issues within the hospitals. It was agreed that the Director of Public Health would ask the Data Modellist for qualitative data as to reasons for delays.  Public Health, the Local Authority and the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group were asked to identify a list of actions to improve performance and outcomes for consideration at the next meeting.  

Reference was made to self-funders, the need for them to be able to access information or be signposted to it and for them to have support to help make decisions about long term care.  The Executive Director would discuss this with the Director of Public Health outside the meeting.  It was noted that there was a role for the voluntary sector and Healthwatch in signposting people to appropriate information.

Resolved

1.  That performance against the BCF metrics be noted.

2.  That the Director of Public Health contact David Plumber, Data Modellist, to discuss the need for improved data science in order to better understand the BCF metrics and to obtain qualitative data as to reasons for delayed discharges.

3. That Public Health, the Local Authority and the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group identify a list of actions to improve delayed transfers of care performance for consideration at the next meeting.  

4.  That the next Better Care Fund report would include an update on the impact of the launch of the Dorset Care Record.

5.  That the Director of Public Health and the Executive Director discuss support for self-funders to help them make decisions about long term care.